Appreciation Velocity — North Carolina Cities
Cities of North Carolina ranked by 1Y / 3Y / 5Y home-price appreciation.
Public Record
Top 10 — 5Y appreciation (Citys)
#1 · Smyrna, NC
+1,337.5%
#2 · Creston, NC
+1,131.0%
#3 · Bunn, NC
+885.0%
#4 · Apex, NC
+866.3%
#5 · Andrews, NC
+572.6%
#6 · Barco, NC
+506.0%
#7 · Badin Lake, NC
+503.8%
#8 · Duck, NC
+493.4%
#9 · Rosman, NC
+484.7%
#10 · Glenville, NC
+478.5%
City ranking — 5Y appreciation (highest first)
| # | City | State | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Current median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smyrna, NC | NC | -78.2% | -34.9% | +1,337.5% | +49.4% | $172.5K |
| 2 | Creston, NC | NC | +127.3% | — | +1,131.0% | +107.8% | $727.4K |
| 3 | Bunn, NC | NC | — | — | +885.0% | — | $1.15M |
| 4 | Apex, NC | NC | +474.1% | +472.6% | +866.3% | +480.9% | $4.64M |
| 5 | Andrews, NC | NC | +337.2% | +506.1% | +572.6% | +1,907.4% | $1.28M |
| 6 | Barco, NC | NC | +583.0% | +1,612.0% | +506.0% | +902.6% | $1.71M |
| 7 | Badin Lake, NC | NC | +150.6% | — | +503.8% | +138.6% | $790K |
| 8 | Duck, NC | NC | +46.6% | +3,501.5% | +493.4% | +245.3% | $2.1M |
| 9 | Rosman, NC | NC | +153.7% | +163.6% | +484.7% | +96.1% | $651K |
| 10 | Glenville, NC | NC | +34.2% | +204.4% | +478.5% | +899.7% | $1.83M |
| 11 | Sims, NC | NC | +349.0% | +862.8% | +475.6% | — | $1.1M |
| 12 | Harkers Island, NC | NC | +50.9% | +39.7% | +463.1% | +575.3% | $760K |
| 13 | Arden, NC | NC | +137.1% | +244.4% | +458.3% | +581.9% | $2.14M |
| 14 | Harrellsville, NC | NC | — | +863.6% | +432.2% | — | $212K |
| 15 | Wadesboro, NC | NC | +57.5% | +318.4% | +391.6% | +479.8% | $356.6K |
| 16 | Oakboro, NC | NC | +94.2% | +190.7% | +372.1% | +345.3% | $810K |
| 17 | Catawba, NC | NC | +175.6% | +169.3% | +358.1% | +215.9% | $740K |
| 18 | Bald Head Island, NC | NC | +136.8% | +214.5% | +345.9% | +495.5% | $2.46M |
| 19 | Belews Creek, NC | NC | +23.7% | +121.3% | +341.1% | — | $646.7K |
| 20 | Stumpy Point, NC | NC | +529.3% | — | +320.6% | — | $440.5K |
| 21 | Burgaw, NC | NC | +15.2% | +354.1% | +294.7% | +489.9% | $584.4K |
| 22 | Morehead City, NC | NC | -9.4% | +85.3% | +284.9% | +347.1% | $711.8K |
| 23 | Battleboro, NC | NC | +3.5% | +19.1% | +261.7% | +322.2% | $351.5K |
| 24 | Spruce Pine, NC | NC | +208.4% | +139.2% | +256.8% | +556.9% | $667.8K |
| 25 | Warne, NC | NC | -16.1% | — | +255.9% | +186.2% | $415K |
| 26 | Germanton, NC | NC | +91.4% | — | +250.3% | +56.0% | $510K |
| 27 | Stony Point, NC | NC | +80.5% | +0.2% | +249.7% | +240.7% | $417.3K |
| 28 | Hallsboro, NC | NC | -22.9% | — | +240.2% | +15.7% | $162K |
| 29 | Hamptonville, NC | NC | — | -48.1% | +237.7% | +599.3% | $479K |
| 30 | Lake Waccamaw, NC | NC | +722.4% | +214.7% | +237.5% | — | $567.5K |
| 31 | Pinehurst, NC | NC | +10.5% | +138.7% | +228.4% | +271.4% | $879.5K |
| 32 | Olin, NC | NC | +273.1% | — | +225.6% | — | $720K |
| 33 | Farmville, NC | NC | +107.3% | +61.9% | +221.3% | +144.6% | $340K |
| 34 | Coinjock, NC | NC | +15.2% | -13.8% | +214.2% | +6.9% | $534.5K |
| 35 | Willard, NC | NC | +110.5% | — | +211.8% | +174.9% | $368.8K |
| 36 | Highlands, NC | NC | +52.9% | +117.8% | +211.1% | +167.0% | $2.17M |
| 37 | Holly Ridge, NC | NC | -0.7% | +105.9% | +206.3% | +135.7% | $418.2K |
| 38 | Nags Head, NC | NC | +63.1% | +169.9% | +205.9% | +145.7% | $1.38M |
| 39 | Linville, NC | NC | +278.0% | +94.5% | +200.9% | — | $1.49M |
| 40 | Rose Hill, NC | NC | — | — | +200.0% | — | $265K |
| 41 | Pittsboro, NC | NC | +9.4% | +96.1% | +194.2% | +341.8% | $868.1K |
| 42 | Crumpler, NC | NC | +169.8% | — | +193.4% | +957.0% | $1.02M |
| 43 | Fuquay Varina, NC | NC | +88.2% | -52.0% | +186.1% | +97.5% | $938.5K |
| 44 | Point Harbor, NC | NC | — | +45.2% | +183.9% | — | $570K |
| 45 | Chocowinity, NC | NC | +36.0% | +70.3% | +182.7% | +128.3% | $468.4K |
| 46 | Snow Hill, NC | NC | +78.8% | +131.3% | +182.1% | +211.7% | $326.7K |
| 47 | Warrenton, NC | NC | +67.2% | +153.4% | +179.6% | — | $270K |
| 48 | Jackson Springs, NC | NC | -18.4% | +26.9% | +178.9% | +189.8% | $362.2K |
| 49 | Waxhaw, NC | NC | +136.6% | +298.7% | +178.6% | +219.4% | $2.02M |
| 50 | Roxboro, NC | NC | +90.3% | +77.4% | +176.1% | +208.2% | $438K |
| 51 | Camden, NC | NC | +5.6% | +224.3% | +175.5% | +114.8% | $496.1K |
| 52 | Emerald Isle, NC | NC | +17.9% | +83.5% | +173.3% | +178.5% | $1.13M |
| 53 | New Hill, NC | NC | — | +168.0% | +169.4% | +343.9% | $1.52M |
| 54 | Robbinsville, NC | NC | -4.7% | +33.4% | +163.5% | +88.5% | $447.6K |
| 55 | Sparta, NC | NC | +5.6% | -7.3% | +162.4% | +46.2% | $331.3K |
| 56 | Stella, NC | NC | +20.8% | +81.8% | +162.1% | +48.5% | $442.3K |
| 57 | Shawboro, NC | NC | +16.9% | +194.2% | +161.6% | +404.7% | $617.9K |
| 58 | Powells Point, NC | NC | +83.6% | +126.2% | +161.4% | +160.2% | $341.5K |
| 59 | Randleman, NC | NC | +7.3% | +192.7% | +161.3% | +215.6% | $375K |
| 60 | Supply, NC | NC | +13.9% | +41.0% | +159.9% | +328.7% | $359.6K |
| 61 | Madison, NC | NC | -28.0% | — | +159.8% | +27.5% | $250.9K |
| 62 | Southport, NC | NC | -14.4% | +56.6% | +158.5% | +191.3% | $672.3K |
| 63 | Blowing Rock, NC | NC | +45.1% | +62.9% | +157.9% | +288.7% | $1.14M |
| 64 | Hillsborough, NC | NC | +46.6% | +270.6% | +150.8% | +138.4% | $757K |
| 65 | Stoneville, NC | NC | +1.2% | -27.5% | +148.4% | +91.5% | $199.8K |
| 66 | Fremont, NC | NC | -8.6% | — | +145.1% | — | $253.3K |
| 67 | Warsaw, NC | NC | +43.3% | +44.7% | +143.8% | +165.7% | $279K |
| 68 | Windsor, NC | NC | +329.2% | +164.2% | +141.3% | +95.8% | $279K |
| 69 | Hamilton, NC | NC | — | — | +141.1% | +92.9% | $67.5K |
| 70 | Lillington, NC | NC | -9.3% | -9.3% | +139.5% | +146.1% | $385K |
| 71 | Sugar Grove, NC | NC | +150.1% | +153.5% | +137.5% | +178.5% | $1M |
| 72 | Grifton, NC | NC | +9.3% | +395.8% | +137.1% | +113.2% | $351.8K |
| 73 | Peachland, NC | NC | +557.0% | -58.8% | +135.7% | +78.8% | $295K |
| 74 | Bahama, NC | NC | +14.7% | +21.3% | +134.8% | — | $410K |
| 75 | Stanfield, NC | NC | +80.5% | +33.9% | +134.5% | +385.5% | $585K |
| 76 | Balsam Grove, NC | NC | +10.6% | — | +134.1% | — | $195K |
| 77 | Foxfire village, NC | NC | -82.8% | -74.1% | +133.3% | — | $105K |
| 78 | Pine Knoll Shores, NC | NC | +54.7% | +99.4% | +133.0% | +213.6% | $972.9K |
| 79 | Pinnacle, NC | NC | +30.2% | +124.4% | +132.6% | +490.0% | $628.3K |
| 80 | Minnesott Beach, NC | NC | +13.0% | +2.0% | +132.5% | +148.5% | $265K |
| 81 | Davidson, NC | NC | +15.6% | +87.8% | +132.1% | +166.3% | $1.09M |
| 82 | Rocky Point, NC | NC | +27.8% | +78.4% | +131.8% | +227.9% | $461.4K |
| 83 | Crouse, NC | NC | +94.3% | — | +130.3% | +126.8% | $488.7K |
| 84 | Woodfin, NC | NC | +41.5% | +68.8% | +128.5% | +1,113.7% | $530K |
| 85 | Morganton, NC | NC | +18.5% | +120.0% | +128.4% | +93.9% | $361.8K |
| 86 | Grandy, NC | NC | +2.0% | +80.5% | +127.3% | +171.3% | $511.8K |
| 87 | Lake Toxaway, NC | NC | +8.8% | +81.7% | +125.6% | +360.8% | $797.5K |
| 88 | Jonesville, NC | NC | +68.7% | +82.9% | +122.5% | +193.1% | $263.5K |
| 89 | Washington, NC | NC | +43.7% | +35.6% | +122.4% | +219.6% | $361.9K |
| 90 | Sherrills Ford, NC | NC | +33.5% | -23.7% | +120.4% | +125.6% | $759.9K |
| 91 | Lenoir, NC | NC | +15.2% | +0.3% | +119.5% | +189.9% | $301.4K |
| 92 | Reidsville, NC | NC | +58.6% | +116.9% | +116.7% | +236.8% | $355.7K |
| 93 | Oriental, NC | NC | +32.8% | -23.6% | +115.3% | +244.0% | $379.8K |
| 94 | Oak Ridge, NC | NC | +123.6% | +10.9% | +113.6% | +180.3% | $737.3K |
| 95 | Timberlake, NC | NC | +11.8% | +13.7% | +113.4% | +162.4% | $404.6K |
| 96 | Taylorsville, NC | NC | +58.3% | +78.3% | +113.2% | +152.6% | $455K |
| 97 | Atlantic Beach, NC | NC | -4.5% | +19.1% | +113.1% | +113.7% | $638K |
| 98 | Mount Olive, NC | NC | +141.9% | -17.2% | +112.0% | +206.7% | $207K |
| 99 | Grimesland, NC | NC | -7.5% | +476.1% | +111.8% | +222.5% | $409K |
| 100 | Maple Hill, NC | NC | +29.8% | +190.9% | +107.9% | +173.2% | $388.7K |
How to read these numbers
Velocity vs. level
A market with 25% one-year appreciation is moving fast — but a market with steady 6% over ten years has compounded much further. Use 10Y as the long-run signal, 1Y as the momentum signal.
Mean-reversion risk
Markets that posted huge 1Y and 3Y gains often cool over the next cycle. Compare 1Y to 5Y: if 1Y is far above 5Y, the trend is accelerating; if far below, it is decelerating — often the more important signal.
Sample sanity
We require a minimum current median price (default $50K) to filter out tiny ZIPs with noisy data. Raise that threshold for serious investment markets; lower it to find emerging niches. Source: public record.